Paul Bunyan Archery Company

 Paul Bunyan Fiberglass Recurves
by Larry Vienneau

During the 1950 and early 1960s Paul Bunyan Bait Company was Minnesota's largest and most popular lure company.  It was started in 1939 by Karl Larson and based in Minneapolis Minnesota. 

Building housing Paul Bunyan Bait Company, Minnesota Historic Society

It sold Fishing tackle and lures, in the 1950s it began making Archery Equipment. Their archery division was first called Paul Bunyan Glass Products and later became Paul Bunyan Archery Company. It competed with Ben Pearson, Bear and Shakespeare for the solid glass bow. Some people believe that Ben Pearson made the bows for Paul Bunyan but this isn't true.

late 1950s Ad

 Paul Bunyan owned a fiberglass factory in Minneapolis and made fiberglass fishing rods and later archery equipment. In their advertising material they claim to be have made the first solid fiberglass recurve. 

Paul Bunyan bow being tested

During the 1950s Paul Bunyan bows were considered a high quality fiberglass bow. All solid glass limbs are predisposed to stacking and are heavier then wood and fiberglass laminated bows. Because of the heavier limbs they are slower on recovery, and therefore have a slower arrow speed then modern laminate recurves. 

1954 ranking of the best bows for the money

Paul Bunyan Fiberglass Bows were lethal hunting weapons

 If you happen to find some 1950s and 60s archery magazines, you will see photos and readers’ letters about these bows as well as lots of photos of, big game (including Elk, Bear, and Moose!) was killed with solid glass bows, as they were quite popular due to the low price and overall durability. Paul Bunyan made excellent shooters for nearly 20 years.I have not been able to find the exact year they closed their business but it was likely in the early to mid-1960s. 

late 1950s Ad

There isn't much information about the company or the bows online so this is best I could do reconstructing the history.

I shot a lot of fiberglass bows when I was a kid. I never paid much attention to the brand, however I do remember Shakespeare because I bought one with my chores money. I am sure I shot Paul Bunyan bows too. Like many of these vintage fiberglass bows, they can be bought on eBay for a nice price. 

I bought three great 50-55 lb Paul Bunyan ambidextrous bow within one week. They were in fairly good condition and I cleaned them and refinished them. I bought the Model 100, 300, and 500. The oldest is the Model 500, a longbow. Both the Model 300 and 100 are fine shooting recurves.

55# Paul Bunyan Model 100

 

50#  Model 300

50# Model 500

limb profiles of the bows

The Model 100 is the more expensive model. It has a more pronounced recurve. I needed to add a handle wrap to the Model 500, I also added half golf tees for arrow rests. I hate shooting off the knuckle, when I was younger I shot a wooden arrow which had a crack, half the arrow imbedded into my hand, not a pretty picture!!! All three bows were in fine shape. The only problem I had was with the Model 300. Some of the nocks were worn and the string did not want to stay put, so I refiled the nock groove. 

refiled nock groove

The bows are very good shooters. I got nice groups from all three. Each had the typical hand shock but Model 100 was very slight. 

I shot 12 arrow 410 grain weight from each bow though my chronograph and average the results. These bows have Fast Flight strings, here are the results:

55# Model 100 -------------178.68 FPS

50# Model 300 -------------173.18 FPS

50# Model 500 -------------169.57 FPS

respectable speeds for 50 year old fiberglass bows

A Paul Bunyan Bow on the first page of 1954 "Archery Handbook" by Edmund Burke

this 1960s ad shows a hunter with a Model 100 Fiberglass Bow

© Copyright, Larry Vienneau Jr.

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